Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day

Okay, this is the final entry on Christmas.  It was a great year.  We worked hard to make Christ and family the center of the holiday.  Here are a few more pictures surrounding our Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after.  

~ Christmas Eve ~

Every Christmas Eve when we are in town, we get together with Sarah's family for dinner and traditional festivities.  

This year for dinner we had a great ham dinner with cheesy potatoes, salad and rolls.  

Following dinner we moved into the living room to do the white elephant gift exchange.  

It is fun having the nephews around to add to the fun spirit that Leah and Dax bring around Christmas time.  

Here are the Reeds (Duane, Cole and Molly) with Mom.  Jake can be seen in the bottom right corner picking his nose.  HAHA!

Elijah got some motor oil for his white elephant gift.  

I'm not quite sure what Jake (Sarah's Brother) got for his white elephant gift as it is too small to see, but he seems perplexed.  He did land a great bride to be this holiday in Erin.  Congrats Jake and Erin!

Here the kids sit anxiously for their turn to steal a gift.

Josh (Sarah's Brother) is excited for whatever it is he got.

It just so happened that Mom landed the perfect present. It couldn't have been hand selected for her personally.  She always loses her keys.  She got some huge bright key holder.  

Elijah is a good kid.  I'm sure Santa has him on his good list.  

The verdict is still out on Josh.  Santa is reserving the right to decide last minute whether Josh gets coal or a gift.  

Mom showing off the other half of her white elephant gift.  Looks like it should fit.  

Josh, Jake and Erin led all of us in the 12 Days of Christmas.  It was a special unique version surrounding our family.  It was super fun.  

The kids love acting out the manger story.  Leah especially loves it because she is always Mary.  I guess being the only girl cousin has it's perks.  

Dax looked so cute as the shepherd boy, but only for about 2 minutes.  He would not cooperate with the camera.  

The boys dressed as the three wise men and led us all in the song "We Three Kings".  Elijah brought the Gold for baby Jesus.  

Jake provided the frankenscents (sp?)

Cole brought Myrh.  

The kids did a great job acting out the Bible Story as I read from Luke 2.

The whole cast sans Dax.  

Leah has natural Motherly instincts and she takes great reverence in her portrayal of the Mother of Christ.

Of course, like many other families, we each get to open one present on Christmas Eve.  It is always pajamas and has been as long as I can remember.  Sarah got her and the kids some nice Disneyland PJs and made me a cool Disney t-shirt and shorts.  

Another fun tradition that we have at the end of the night before parting ways is the writing of letters to Santa.  

~ Christmas Morn ~

Even before Santa arrived the tree was surrounded by way too many presents. 

After Santa arrived it was even more ridiculous!  I am happy to be so blessed and it makes my heart warm to give my kids all they want, but every year I think we did to much.  

Dax really got into Christmas this year.  In fact, it took all of our energy to keep him from opening other people's presents.  

Leah is such a polite and grateful little girl.  This year she found herself more concerned with more and more presents and less concerned with showing gratitude.  This is a concern for me as I personally think we do too much and more and more every Christmas.  Fortunately, she is a good cat and is still such a grateful and expressingly appreciative girl. 

Dax is in the car stage.  He is fascinated with everything and anything that has four wheels.

Sarah's Mom and step-Father came up from Arizona to be with us Christmas morning.  

Here is Sarah showing off her uniquely wrapped gift from me.  

My special gift to the family was a trip to Disneyland in the coming months.  They got these stuffed animals and their trip itinerary.  They loved the dolls and I'm sure they'll love Disneyland.  

Lastly, Santa brought them each a bike with their personal license plates.

We were fortunate to have a white Christmas, but that meant no riding their bikes until Spring.  

So we parked the cars outside in the snow so they could ride their bikes in the garage for a little bit.  

Dax has to extend his toes to the very tips in order to stand while on his bike.  Come Spring he should be tall enough.  

Leah hasn't learned yet how to ride a bike and this bigger bike won't accommodate training wheels so she will have to wait until Spring for Dad to teach her.  

Grandma Leslie took her turn pushing Dax around too. 

Finally!  All the presents are opened, the wrapping paper is in the trash and now it's time for Christmas Breakfast Casserole Trosper Style (double sausage double cheese)!

 

I challenge anybody to look at this picture and tell me I am not the most blessed man!

Luckily our kids don't wake up too early like my brothers and I used to do.  But, if they do, it is a fun tradition to first go through our stockings.

Isn't she lovely?  Even early in the morning when she just woke up!

Mom was able to fight the weather and drive over in her front wheel drive sleigh to be with us Christmas morning.  

She's "bow"eutiful!

Dax is searching for a special Christmas gift.  

~ Christmas Night ~

Sarah's family came back Christmas night to give and receive gifts.  Dax LOVES his "Very First Grill" that he got from Uncle Jake and Aunt Erin.

Jake was so excited to get a Hulk action figure.

Sarah's Mom and Step Father came from Arizona, but it is possible that Josh, Jake and Erin traveled more than anybody as they drove down from Salt Lake in all kinds of weather every day for a week!  Josh made us this cool desk lamp.  

Here is one of the two ornaments Elijah made for us.  

Leah loves to do art and this pencil, crayola, chalk, pastels, markers and paint set has been put to good use ever since Christmas.  

While we had Sarah's whole family with us, we tried to get a family pic.  They didn't turn out so well.  Oh well...we tried.  

Grandma Leslie loves these kids and they love her...though you wouldn't guess it by Dax's face.  

We hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas and that your new year is prosperous, joyous and safe.